GRANVILLE - Though a bit of a roller-coaster ride during the past three decades, Pete McCoy is pleased he can leave the golf business on his own terms.

McCoy and his co-owner Denny Riga are selling Raccoon International Golf Course after 27 years. McCoy, a certified public accountant in Columbus, began living a "dream" after a high school classmate mentioned Raccoon during a class reunion.

"Owning Raccoon has been one of the great joys of my life, that's for sure," McCoy said. "It was a goal long ago, and thanks to (Riga) I was able to see that dream come true."

McCoy and Riga bought the course from Owens Corning and immediately doubled the course revenues within five years. McCoy, however, listed a number of poor economic periods and outside forces, including the construction of the Ohio 161 expressway, that threatened golf courses in Licking County.

"It's been a struggle. There's no doubt about it, but it's more about us than golf and Raccoon," McCoy said. "It's just the right time for a change in life — sadly. Getting old isn't fun."

Decision time

Like Raccoon, a number of courses have reached the same crossroads, and Scott Evans, owner of Indian Hills Golf Course, is following McCoy's path, putting his course up for sale while others are attempting to re-invent themselves.

It unfortunately has been inevitable for Evans, who has owned Indian Hills for 23 years, a nine-hole course located in a coveted area nestled between residential and commercial development.

"It just hasn't been profitable for a long time," Evans said. "I'm not even sure I would call it a trend anymore. It's lasted pretty much since (Sept. 11, 2001)."

Buy Photo

Raccoon International Golf Course in Granville is up for sale. (Photo: Jessica Phelps/The Advocate)

Evans and McCoy both mentioned the Tiger boom, created by the star power of Tiger Woods and building of golf courses that came with it in the late 1990s.

McCoy rattled off the construction of The Links at Echo Springs and Clover Valley Golf Club and the expansion of Broadview Golf Course to satisfy the demand created by the increased supply of golf enthusiasts in Licking County.

Too many courses

That supply, however, quickly reached saturation.

"That's foremost the problem," said Ben Tigner, director of golf at Kyber Run Golf Course. "Where we are at, there are six golf courses in a seven-mile radius of me. Obviously, competition is different in Licking County than I think maybe any other county in the state."

The economic collapse a decade ago hit Kyber Run particularly hard. Tigner noted the price of fertilizer quadrupled at one point, and Kyber Run was listed on Licking County's recent release of delinquent tax properties, owing more than $28,000.

Tigner, however, said his bosses are not giving up, adding the financial problems "hopefully have been cleaned up, and we are working on that. There are always struggles in business, but we are keeping our head above water and looking forward to the future here."

Kyber Run's owners have poured resources into a renovation of the bunkers.

"We are re-investing, trying to improve our property," Tigner said. "Our play is definitely up, and the main reason being the golfer wants the best product for the best price they can get. The maintenance is so expensive. That's the downfall of the business, so we are trying to do as much in-house as we can aesthetically and playability."

Spending to earn is a luxury larger clubs enjoy. The Trout Club, High Lands Golf Club and Cumberland Trail Golf Club all have undergone massive changes on and off the course in past few years.

Clubs still feature golf as their primary purpose, but owners have discovered other ways to drive business. Clubs now are hosting weddings, which McCoy said he should have done at Raccoon, and Cumberland Trail has opened its The Loft restaurant to the public.

Newark City Council approved a zoning change Monday night for the Trout Club in north Newark. The change from single-family residence to planned unit development allows Trout Club owner Brent Dewey the option of developing 13 acres of multi-family housing and 9 acres of single-family housing on course property.

The future development, which includes plans for 36 condominium units and nine homes, would be outside of the course layout and would not affect the play on the golf course.

Randy Mitchell, head golf professional at Moundbuilders Country Club, said a change in focus on the course also has been a key to success in Newark, where families' daily lives have contributed to changing the clientele. Events such as the Wine and Nine, Wine and Dine, Christmas in July and Big Ten Kickoff have provided a non-competitive environment for less serious players.

"We have had a little uptick I guess you could say in new members, but at the same time, old members are (aging out)," Mitchell said. "We stay busy with programs that nowadays are mostly family-oriented. It's less competitive golfing that draw our larger crowds."

End of an era

Evans and McCoy each have attempted to stay ahead of the curve for more than 20 years. It is time for a change.

"There's a slight variance from year to year, but in general there hasn't been much in the way of profit," Evans said.

The people, including general manager John Bruney and greens superintendent Chad Moore, are who McCoy will miss.

"We have some really loyal players in Licking County, there's no question about it," McCoy said. "We count on those people. There are some no matter how rough Raccoon has gotten just love the track and love our people, too. What Chad can do in terms of keeping that course pretty when given very little resources is amazing."